Small Odysseys

“Lovers of the short story, rejoice! There’s something for everyone in this anniversary collection . . . The collection makes the argument that time and again, it is stories that save us.” —Booklist 

Thirty-five literary luminaries come together in this stunning collection of all-new works.

A must-have for any lover of literature, Small Odysseys sweeps the reader into the landscape of the contemporary short story, featuring never-before-published works by many of our most preeminent authors as well as up-and-coming superstars.

On their journey through the book, readers will encounter long-ago movie stars, a town full of dandelions, and math lessons from Siri. They will attend karaoke night, hear a twenty-something slacker’s breathless report of his failed recruiting by the FBI, and travel with a father and son as they channel grief into running a neigh­borhood bakery truck. They will watch the Greek goddess Persephone encounter the end of the world, and witness another apocalypse through a series of advertise­ments for a touchless bidet. And finally, they will meet an aging loner who finds courage and resilience hidden in the most unexpected of places—the next generation.

Published in partnership with beloved literary radio program and live show Selected Shorts in honor of its thirty-fifth anniversary, this collection of thirty-five stories captures its spirit in print for the first time.

FEATURING
Rabih Alameddine * Jenny Allen * Lesley Nneka Arimah * Aimee Bender * Marie-Helene Bertino * Jai Chakrabarti * Patrick Cottrell * Elizabeth Crane * Michael Cunningham * Patrick Dacey * Edwidge Danticat * Dave Eggers * Omar El Akkad * Lauren Groff * Jacob Guajardo * A.M. Homes * Mira Jacob * Jac Jemc * Etgar Keret * Lisa Ko * Victor LaValle * J. Robert Lennon * Ben Loory * Carmen Maria Machado * Juan Martinez * Maile Meloy * Joe Meno * Susan Perabo * Helen Phillips * Namwali Serpell * Rivers Solomon * Elizabeth Strout * Luis Alberto Urrea * Jess Walter * Weike Wang

• “Lovers of the short story, rejoice! There’s something for everyone in this anniversary collection . . . Author notes following each story add depth and understanding to these equally delightful and devastating literary ‘snacks’ . . . Overall, the collection makes the argument that time and again, it is stories that save us.”
  —Booklist 
  
  “In her introduction, editor Hannah Tinti recalls the magic of listening to Selected Shorts on the radio in her early twenties . . . With Small Odysseys, she affords readers similar access to the transcendency of a story well-told.”
  —Poets Writers
  
  “Tinti delivers a dynamic anthology drawn from the Selected Shorts public radio program . . . Short story fans will enjoy the abundance of talent on offer.”
  —Publishers Weekly 
  
  “A wide-ranging anthology of original stories from some of today's top authors . . . Well-curated, eclectic, and thoughtful.”
  —Kirkus Reviews